DIOCESE—It’s time again for Catholics of the diocese to support what could be called the “backbone” piece of the body of the Diocese of Rockford. 

 

The diocesan-level structure supported by the annual appeal — with a theme this year of “Do You Love Me?” — includes several essential services:

 

-- The Department of Financial and Administrative Services, which makes possible everything from diocesan employees’ insurance and payroll, retirement and pension, property management, Catholic cemeteries oversight, information tech-nology, parish donation management and more;

 

-- The Department of Educational Services, which has oversight of diocesan schools, religious education programs, youth ministry, adult formation, and campus ministries. Services include a variety of assistance and guidance provided during the pandemic, ongoing formation/training events for teachers and catechists, support for principals and other education leaders, and two programs of classes for adults who wish to learn more about their faith — the Ministry Formation Program and the Diocesan Theological Institute;

 

-- Numerous ministries are provided under the Department of Pastoral Services, including Bishop Lane Retreat Center, the Deaf Apostolate, the Life and Family Evangelization Office, Scouting and offices that assist populations such as the Filipino and the Vietnamese Catholic ministries. Lay groups and ministries from Cursillo to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to third-order groups have resource personnel at the diocesan level;

 

-- Catholic Charities and its programs are an essential component with programs to assist people in the many communities that lie within diocesan boundaries. Those served include all ages, races, income levels and countries of origin — Catholics and non-Catholics alike;

 

-- Still other offices and services include the Diocesan Tribunal, which among other things handles marriage annulment cases; Vocations Office; Office of the Permanent Diaconate; Prison and Jail Ministry; Safe Environment Office; Hispanic Ministry; and, of course, the many ministry activities of the diocesan bishop, Bishop David Malloy.

 

Bishop Malloy celebrates 10 years as the Bishop of the Rockford Diocese this year. He notes that the theme “Do You Love Me?” reflects Jesus when he questioned St. Peter in the Gospels.

 

“Most of us, like Peter, would say, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you,’” Bishop Malloy notes in his appeal letter. “Jesus … calls us all to His fold as disciples and asks us to tend to one another.”

 

Contributions to the appeal, he adds, “Support our parishes, our priests, and ministries of the Diocese … that in turn tend to the faithful and ensure that young and old continue to be nurtured in the sacraments and educated in the faith … (and this appeal) can be your response to God’s call to care for others.”

 

In this issue of The Observer are four pages detailing the “Do You Love Me” annual appeal including Leadership Giving Societies and how funds collected are used. Also included is information on how to give in alternative ways such as online, through texts, or through automatic bill pay.

 

For more information, contact the Office of Charitable Giving at 815-399-4300 or email: charitablegiving@rockforddiocese.org.